President Obama Reveals ‘The Butler’ Made Him Cry

Myeisha Essex is in love with all things pop culture, thanks in large part to her hometown. This Los Angeles native has an encyclopedic knowledge of the entertainment industry and she loves a good trivia game. She received her bachelor’s degree in journalism and media studies from Bennett College for Women and her master's from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Her work can be found in Sister 2 Sister, Harlem World Magazine, Clutch and on Essence.com. When she's not keeping up with the news or learning Beyonce's latest dance moves, she enjoys watching stand-up comedy on YouTube! Follow her on Instagram @more_about_me

President Obama sat down for an interview on The Tom Joyner Morning Show this week and along with discussing the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington and the Affordable Care Act, he had some kind words to say about Lee Daniels new film, The Butler

“You know, I did see The Butler, and I did tear up,” he admitted. “I teared up just thinking about not just the butlers who have worked here in the White House, but an entire generation of people who were talented and skilled, but because of Jim Crow, because of discrimination, there was only so far they could go. And yet, with dignity and tenacity, they got up and worked every single day, and put up with a whole lot of mess because they hoped for something better for their kids.”

“My favorite part was probably some of the jokes Cuba Gooding told,” Obama said. “But we can’t repeat them on the air.”

He added, “All of the acting was terrific, and I thought Forrest Whitaker was wonderful. And Oprah, my girl, she can act.”

As for the real-life service staff, the Commander in Chief said “they could not have been kinder” to him and his family when they first arrived to the White House in 2008.

“I will tell you that the butlers who are now here in the White House, when we first arrived, when Michelle and the girls just — first arrived, they could not have been kinder to us and warmer to us,” he said. “And part of it, I suspect, is they look at Malia and Sasha and they say, well, this looks like my grandbaby, or this looks like my daughter. And I think for them to have a sense that we’ve come that far was a powerful moment for them, and certainly a powerful moment for us. We love them to death. They look after us just wonderfully.”